Out-of-state excursions for whole grade levels won’t be allowed anymore because some were excluded

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They did the right thing in canceling the trips
24% (189)

They should let the trips go on for those who can afford it
39% (311)

They should find a way to fundraise so everyone can go
38% (301)

801 total votes.

The era of the eighth-grade East Coast trip is over for San Diego schools, ending a rite of passage that has brought history alive for generations of students — while leaving those who cannot afford it at home.

The trips were marketed by teachers to entire grade levels of students, who went together on school days to historic sites in Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia and Boston — costing more than $2,000 per person.

School assignments were built into the trips, chaperoned by teachers and coordinated by private companies.

The trips have gone on for decades, but the district this year began questioning how to square the expeditions with the California Constitution’s guarantee of a free public education. This year’s spring trips were almost called off in December, but went on because of nonrefundable deposits.

The district promised a new policy, which was distributed late last week. It specified that out-of-state trips can only be taken by specific groups of students, such as a band or sports team.

“We cannot ensure that all kids will be able to go on large grade-wide trips, so to comply with state law, those trips are no longer permitted,” Chief of Staff Bernie Rhinerson said. “Smaller focused groups can still go on privately-raised funds.”

The state Education Code says no student can be turned away from a field trip for lack of means.

Many parents and students were disappointed that the district didn’t find a way to save the program.

“This is totally wrong,” parent Donna Johnson Clark said on UTSanDiego.com. “I as a single parent with a limited income sent two students on those trips. We fundraised, collected aluminum cans, whatever it took to make it happen. If a parent wants their child to go, it can be done. If they don’t want to put forth the effort, that’s on them. We are punishing some because others won’t put out any effort so their child can go. So sad for the future students.”

Parent Amber Nichols Ragghanti agreed, saying, “It is very sad that because not everyone can, no one can.”

The issue is part of a long-running debate over whether public schools can charge students fees for things such as textbooks, athletic participation and uniforms. The courts have ruled that these fees violate the state constitution’s free-education guarantee, but rulings offer no alternative funding ideas.

In some school districts, like those in Tulare County, the schools determine the cost for the entire class to attend a trip and raise funds to that end. If the school misses the fundraising target, then none of the students go. San Diego Unified did not go that route.

The new policy was approved by Rhinerson and School District General Counsel Lawrence Schoenke, and did not need full school board approval because it is an administrative policy. Rhinerson said the public could ask the school board to reconsider.

“They could, but what we are doing with policy is complying with state law,” Rhinerson said.